Circuit-breaker.



PATBNTED JUNE 11, 1 907.

B. P. RUGKER. CIRCUIT BREAKER. APPLIOATIOI run arm. 22. 1904.

WITNESSES:

INVENTOR 'PM IATT'ORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN P. RUCKER, OF WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY. A CORPORA- TION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

CIRCUIT-BREAKER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 11', 1907.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMINP. RUOKER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Wilkinsburg, in the countyof Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Circuit- Breakers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to overload interrupting devices for electric circuits, and it has for its object to provide a circuit-breaker of simple and inexpensive construction, which shall be compact in arrangement and effective for low capacity service.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, Figure 1 is a front elevation, Fig. 2 .a central, longitudinal section and Fig. 3 an end view, looking upward, of a switchboard instrument embodying its essential features, j l

Referring now to the structural features illustrated. 1 is a base-plate of suitable nonconducting material, such as marble, slate or porcelain, which may be a switchboard panel. As here indicated, the plate 1 is provided with three recesses 2, 3 and 4 in its rear face, the recess 2 containing the nuts and washers 5 and 6 of two binding screw-bolts 7 and 8. Clamped beneath the head of the screw-bolt 7, is a terminal piece 9, and between this ter minal and the face of the plateis clamped a metal strip or plate 10, a portion of which is bent at substantially right-angles to the body part and is provided, at its outer end, with a contact terminal block 11 of carbon or other substantially infusible conducting material, the front face of the block 11 being preferably concave, as indicated.

The lower end of the plate is'provided with extensions 12 that also project substantially at right-angles to the face of the slab 1 and their outer ends are bent backward upon themselves so as to form concave jaws between which a movable contact terminal may be readily inserted. An angular stop piece 13 and one end of a spring locking arm 14 are clamped between the head of the screwbolt 8 and the outer face of the plate 10.

Adjacent to the other or lower end of the I located a sheet metalplate 15 that is clamped to the face of the slab by means of t v0 screw bolts 16 and 17, the nuts and washers 18 and 19 of these screw-bolts being 10- cated respectively in the recesses Sand 4. A terminal. piece 2O is clamped between the head of the bolt 16 and the outer face of the plate 15, as indicated in Fig. 2. The plate 15 is provided, at its lower end, with two bracket arms 21 that project at right-angles to the body portion of the plate and are-pro vided, adjacent to their outer ends, with bearings for a rod or short shaft 22. Journaled upon the rod or shaft 22 and just inside the bracket arms 21, are two arms 23 which project from a cylinder or ferrule 24 of suitable conducting material, the function of which, and also the relation to other parts of the device, will be hereinafter more fully described. a-

The outer ends of the arms 23 are bent inward substantially at right-angles to the body portion, as indicated at 25. Each of the brackets 21' is cut, adjacent to the baseplate 15, to form a tongue 26 that is bent substantially at right-angles to the body portion in order to constitute stops for the sides of the U-shaped portion 27 a of .a coil-spring 27, the outer ends 27 of which project d0nu1- wardly and bear upon the bent ends of the arms 23.

By means of the construction and arrange ment here shown, the spring 27 serves both as a means for effecting a rapid opening movement of the movable member of the circuit-breaker when an overload occurs and as a cushion or buffer for said movable member when it reaches the limit of its opening movement. The plate 15 is also provided pith inteagrl projections 28 that extend substantially at right-angles to the base portion and are bent backward upon themselves to form spring contact arms the outer ends of which may be split for the purpose of making more intimate contact with the cylinder 24, as in dicated in Fig. 1.

Rigidly mounted in the cylinder 24, is one end of a tube 29, preferably of some suit able non conducting material, and surrounding the-other end of this tube, is a cylinder or ferrule 30 of good conducting material and of such diameter as to pass between and make a contact with the spring contact .arms 12 which project from the plate 10. In the outer end-of the cylinder or ferrule '30, is

mounted a block. -3 of carbon, or sulr stentially infusible condo cting materiel, n iing a convex end face oi such curve-item l.

accurately fit the concave 5 Fitted within the tube 2 1i" 32 and Within this tube is 1y mounteu head 33, also of nisigtietizeblo materiel.

This head has a central bore eciw ll adj-scent thereto is provided with a locking pin the-t spring cetco. l4 and thus locks the mo .ble

member of the brceker in closcolv position. In order to close the breaker, i. provide handle or knob 36, which is rigidly connected to the parts 29, 32 and 33 by means of projecting pin 37. The head 33 is provided "itli a downward. or rearward cylindrical extension 38 of relatively small diameter, and

idly mounted upon'this extension is 2. tube of Which projects into the bore or passage 34' in the head 33. The outer or lower" end of the core 12 is provided with a cylinrlricsl recess 44, into which projects a screw &5. The outer end of the screw is provided with en adjusting nut 46 and within the tube 39 is located e disk 47 that is threaded upon the screw 45 and is provided with a projection 48 that is located in the slot in order to prevent rotation. By means of these devices, the position of the core 42 may be so-sdjusted Within the magnetic field produced. by the coil 41 .as to'insure operation, of the breaker at any predetermined degree of overload, Within the capacity of the device. Yihcn the current in the circuit which, contains the coil 41 exceeds the predetermined limit for which the breaker is set, the core 42 will be lifted and the pin 43 -wi h which it is provided will be projected against the outer end of the spring catch Mend thus remove it from the locking pin As soon as this result is ofl ected, the sprin 12'1", which is held under tor sionalstrein so long as the breaker is closed, will serve to open the breaker. I

It will be understood, i'rointhe illustration and" foregoing description, that the circuitbreaker embodying my invention is of simple and compact construction, and. since th; metal parts o'f'the device are stamped or otherwise formed from sheet material, the oonstruction is inexpensive and, at the same time, correspondingly light and well adapted normally nrojects through a hole in the leased.

the combination ill'llllllltl .u, of e movwl to operate in n. plruic her in closed-circuit position, nimns for re leasing; said member when the current one .rieil by it exceeds 2t jirciietermiuml limit. and means for throwing the member to open-circuit pos tion when relczusei'lj L. In. s. circuit brezilrer, the cciubiijmtion with stationery-contsct terminals, of a pivotslly ,oiouiilierl' rheinber comprising an. insulating tube, terminal bonds sim'ouiuling Sftlll tube and :itrip i inp; coil electrically conoeeb ing said terminal bends. 3. In at circ'uit-brezilicr, the llll.)li'12til()l] with two pairs of contact terminal n as, of :1. pivotsll mounted member compri s; :in iii-- suleting body por ion and elccl'riclilly com necterl terminal pi .os surrounding the ends thereof in position to engage the respective pairs of jaws, .u'ieans for locking seill member in closertoircuiiposition, means for releasing said member when the current carried by it exceeds 3. proiletermineil limit and means for throwing the member to open-circuit position when releescil.

4. In a circniblvreelrcr, the combination with stationery contort terminals, of it pivot sll n'muntetlv member comprising; an insu let ing tul teri'ninsl bends mounted on said to he, a tripping roll m'iimcctingr ssial terminal bonds, and stationary anal ii'mvsble iron. cores for said tripping coii.

5. in a circuit-breoher the combination with stationery contact 'iOl'Ii-Ilh: ls, oi a pivot ally mounted inemiicr conmrisiiig an insulating tube, terminal bands mounted thoroon, a tripping coil electricntlly connecting: said terminal bands, stationary and movable iron cores and mes s for adjusting the air gap between the said cores.

In a circuloin-lurker, the combination with stationery contact terminz'il jaws, ol it pivotelly mounted member comprising an insuleting portion and electrice-ll (former-ml ferruleooii the curls thereof, means for locking said member in closml-ciicuit .jlur illt il, means or relessing' said member when jibe current 'l.'l(l by it s x-owls 1:12 prawlMcr mined limit and lllttll'liiilli' till-(mini: lh e member toopen-circuitposition when re 7. 111e, circuitebrosker, the combination with stationery contl ct terminal aws, oi pivotellyrnounterl member comp rising: an in suleting l)QLl Y port-hm and electrically C011.

. carried by itexceeds a predetermined limit and means for. throwing the member to opencircuit position Whenreleased.

.8. In a circuit-breaker, the combination with stat onary contact terminal jaws, of a -pivotally mounted member comprising an in-. sulatmg body portion, and electrically con-' nected terminal ferrules mounted thereon. and adapted to engagethe said stationary terminal jaws, means for locking said mem' her in closed-circuit position, means for releasing-said member when the current carried by it exceeds a predetermined limit and.

' means for throwing the member to open-circuit position when released.

' 4).11'1- a circuit-breaker,"the combination withsta'tionary con-tact terminals, of a pivotally mounted member comprising an insulating tube and electrically connected ferrulestherefor, means for locking said mem .ber in closed-circuit position, means for re- ,leasing said member when the current car 3 'iwith stationary contact terminals, of a pivotriedi by it exceeds a predetermined limit and means. for throwing the member to open-circurt position when released.

10. In a circult-breaker, the combination ally mounted member comprising an insulating tube and electricallyconnected termi nalpieces mounted thereon, means for lockingsaidmember. in closed-circuit position, means for releasing said member when the currentcarried it exceeds a predetermniedQlimit and means for throwingthe imeinber" to open-circuit position when revL11 In a circuit-breaken the combination with stationary contact terminals, of a pivotally mounted member compr sing an insulating tube, terminal pieces mqpnted thereon and a helical. coil electrically c(innecting said terminal pieces.

12. In a CilCUlt-bI'GlkBl, the combination.

with stationary contact terrmnals, of a piv otally mounted member-comprising an insulatingtube, terminal pieces mounted thereon and a helical coil within the tube and elecnnecting the said terminal pieces.-

circuit-breaker, the combination oiijary contact terminals, of apivo rited'member comprising an insuconducting ferrules therefor act erminalsanda helical coil within the insulating tube which'elect'rically con- :66 nects the saidferrules.

14. In a circuit breaker, the combination withstationary contact terminal jaws, of a pivotal-1y mountedtubul ar member comjaws.

adapted toengage the stationary.

prising an insulating body portion and Com tact terminal bands which are electrically connected by means of the circuit-breaker tripping-coil and are adapted to engage said 15. In a circuit-breaker, the combination with stationary contact terminals, of 'a pivotally mounted, tubular member comprising an insulatingportion, contact terminal bands mounted thereon which are adapted to engage the stationary contact terminals and which are electrically connected by means of the circuit-breaker tripping coil.

16. In a circuit breaker, the combination with a base having stationary contact terminals, of aspring arm projecting outwardly from the base, a tubular movable member provided with contact ferrules and with a locking pin to be engaged by said spring arm, and having a longitudinally movable core provided with a tripping rod to engage the outer end of the spring arm and deflect it from the locking pin.

17. In a circuit-breaker, the combination with stationary contact terminals, of a spring catch, a pivotally mounted, tubular member, external contact bands and a lock ing pin which is adapted to engage the said spring catch, an internal coil, stationary and movable lron cores therefor and means con nected with the movable iron core for disengaging the said spring catch from the sald locking pin.

18. The combination with a solenoid and its core, of a calibrating tube into which the core is adapted to pass, an adjustable stop located in said tube, and adjusting means for said stop extending below said tube a distance constant for all adjustments of said stop.

19. The combination with a solenoid and its core, of a calibrating device comprising a stop and operating means therefor freefr'om movement in the direction of said core.

.20. The combination with a solenoid and its core, of a calibrating tube into which the core is adapted to pass, a stop for said core in said tribe, and means for moving said stop, said means having a longitudinal fixed position relative to said tribe, U

21. An electric switch .having means for controlling'it oolmprising'a solenoid including awinding', a hollow core in the solenoid, aslotted tubular projection having a screw .mounted to operate therein, and a nut within the tubular projection and provided with a part fitting in thcslot of said tubular pro actuutii g it, comprising a solenoid including I a, Winding, a slotted guide, an adjusting Screw mounted in the guide, a, nut on the screw and a tubular, reciprocating core c0- operating with the nut in the guide and excitable by the winding to actuate the switch,

substantially as described.

In tstimcny whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 21st day of Septem R. B. TAPLIN, BIRNEY HINEs. 

